It is difficult to read your piece about the rebirth of Hoxton (”Clustering in Hackney,” March 4, 2000) without thinking about Joshua Compston, the champion of art, fashion, entertainment, and real estate in the area. In fact, he invented Hoxton. He repeatedly lit up the squalid square with dazzling art events. Brash and rash, he committed suicide in his mid-twenties exactly four years ago because things were not moving fast enough for his petulant taste. Jay Jopling and Prince Charles, among others who are now flocking to Hoxton, owe much to old Joshua. It is therefore a pity you did not even mention his name.